Go Getters World

Managers of buildings and other facilities where workers perform know that diseases can rapidly spread in an unclean environment. There are in place certain industry standards that require such things as daily cleaning of lunchrooms to guard against and prevent food contamination, and cleaning and sanitizing bathroom facilities to prevent the spread of E. coli and other pathogens. This would extend to the desks and meeting rooms where groups of people in various stages of health would gather, potentially spreading cold and flu germs in any season. While the term “sick building syndrome” is still making its way into the lexicon, the compromises to a worker’s health from such a building are becoming well known. Knowledgeable managers are beginning to consider and utilize products such as purifiers for water and air, carpeting and furniture that don’t emit toxic fumes, and low and no VOC paint. One step in the right direction is the use of non-toxic green multipurpose cleaning products. Some specifics about these products are provided for your information.

Thing To Avoid:

1. Volatile Organic Compounds – One of the things to avoid is something called Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. What this means exactly is that toxic fumes are released from certain liquids and solids. The ratio of this release is consistently higher indoors (with the EPA noting this can be up to ten times higher) than outdoors. Many would be surprised to know that some of the most common and popular cleaning supplies, as well as the paint on the walls, plywood or pressed board used in walls, and paint and paint removers emit these fumes. Even more surprising would be that dry cleaned clothing and even air fresheners can prove toxic indoors. Greatly contributing to this is that the air inside buidlings does not provide good enough ventilation to disapaite the fumes.

Once one is aware of the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds in a work environment, further exploration reveals the harmful side effects of exposure. These effects can be short or long-term and include everything from the simple, such as dizziness, headaches, eye irritation, flu-like symptoms and asthma attacks, to cancer as the most detrimental. While you may be wondering your current exposure level, consider in the equation if your office uses kitchen and bathroom cleaners, glass cleaner, a multi-purpose cleaner, floor cleaners, and spot treatment for fabrics and carpeting. If your answer is yes and these products are not a non-toxic product, then you too are experiencing exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds. While everyone would benefit from less exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds, there are certain segments of the population who are particularly sensitive. These people would include the elderly, pregnant and nursing women, and those who suffer from some sort of immune system compromise.

Keep in mind that cleaning products that contain VOCs aren’t just affecting the people immediately after they are used. Unless there is an air purification or ventilation system that consistently cleans the air, the VOC fumes can stay in the air for hours. They are even off-gassed from the containers sitting in the cabinet or closet.

2. Solvents – Solvents often contain corrosive chemical ingredients, such as alcohols, esters, Ethylene Glycol Ethers (EGEs), and Propylene Glycol Ethers (PGEs). These are carcinogenic and toxic to people & the environment. They would contribute to the VOCs in the air.

What To Look For:

1. Neutral pH – What exactly is meant by the term “neutral pH”? There are three factors involved: the reaction of the cleaning product with the surfaced being cleaned, the reaction with the environment when interacting with the water system, and the reaction of the product with your skin. A neutral pH means that when the product touches a surface it is non-reactive. For example, a pH value over 7.0 is considered to be an alkali, such as bleach. Battery acid, unsurprisingly, is acidic with a pH under 7.0. A product is determined to be neutral if the pH is 7.0.

Easily damaged surfaces, such as marble, are unaffected by neutral pH all natural cleaning products. Even the most sensitive skin is unharmed by neutral pH products that exclude all harsh chemicals. No matter how often a neutral pH product is used, there is no harmful residue buildup on the surfaces that are cleaned, such as countertops, conference tables, desks, and carpets.

2. Biodegradable – All of the chemicals we wash down the drain get put into the water supply unchanged. This affects many levels of plant and animal life and ultimately must be removed from the water prior to consumption. How much better is it to use products that biodegrade within the shortest time as those meeting the highest standards of the EPA do? The most used cleaning products are also the ones that are so deleterious to the environment. Changing to products that biodegrade in under 28 days with no aquatic toxicity is the responsible, eco-friendly choice to make.

3. Plant-Based – Returning to using the natural ingredients of the planet means using chemical-free and toxic-free ingredients to clean. With plant-based products, there is a much less chance of the emission of dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds as they are not included in this makeup. Plant-based brands ensure you reach the level of cleanliness you expect with the more harmful products, without synthetic chemicals.

Using natural multipurpose cleaning products paves the way for a cleaner environment and healthier workers. Choosing to use green cleaning products will put any manager at the forefront of those who care about the wellbeing of workers and the long-term health of the planet.

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